Vectores y escalares

What is a vector quantity?

A vector quantity is one that has both magnitude (size) and spatial direction.

What is a scalar quantity?

A scalar quantity is one that has only magnitude (size) without any direction.

Give an example of a vector quantity.

Examples of vector quantities include force, velocity, displacement, weight, and acceleration.

Give an example of a scalar quantity.

Examples of scalar quantities include speed, distance, time, and mass.

How does speed differ from velocity?

Speed is a scalar that indicates how fast an object is moving, while velocity is a vector that includes both speed and direction.

What does a positive sign in velocity indicate?

A positive sign in velocity indicates movement in the positive x direction.

What does a negative sign in velocity indicate?

A negative sign in velocity indicates movement in the negative x direction.

How do you represent a vector graphically?

A vector can be represented as an arrow where the length indicates magnitude and the direction indicates the orientation.

What is the procedure for adding two vectors?

To add two vectors, place the tail of the second vector at the head of the first vector and draw a new vector from the tail of the first vector to the head of the second.

What does the term 'resultant' refer to in vector addition?

The resultant is another term for the sum of two vectors.

Explain how to subtract vectors.

To subtract vector B from vector A (A - B), you can add the opposite of vector B (A + -B).

What happens when you multiply a vector by a scalar?

Multiplying a vector by a scalar changes its magnitude but not its direction.

How do you decompose a vector into its components?

A vector can be decomposed into its horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components by using angles and trigonometry.

What are the formulas for the horizontal and vertical components of a vector?

The horizontal component (AH) is A cos(θ) and the vertical component (AV) is A sin(θ).

What is the use of the Greek letter theta (θ) in physics?

Theta (θ) is used to represent an angle in trigonometry and vector decomposition.

How do you calculate sin and cos for an angle?

Use a calculator set to degrees to compute sin(θ) = opposite/hypotenuse and cos(θ) = adjacent/hypotenuse.

What is the significance of breaking down a vector into components?

Breaking down a vector into components allows for the analysis of its effects in different directions.